It’s no secret that the Yiddish language and, by extension Ashkenazi culture, are having a major renaissance. The comeback of Yiddish among Millennials and Gen Z stems from a yearning to keep old traditions alive through utilizing modern tech and social media. With language learning apps and Yiddish revivalist events, young Ashkenazi Jews are finding new ways to connect with their heritage.
For those who have merely dipped a toe into the Yiddish language, there are certain sounds one might immediately associate with this distinct-sounding language. Yiddish is characterized by a rich and distinctive sound palette that reflects its historical and cultural roots. Guttural sounds such as “ch” and “r,” vowel combinations such as “oy” and “ay,” and consonant clusters like “shm” or “ts” pepper this colorfully expressive lexicon.
Many words that are popularly associated with Yiddish actually stem from other linguistic backgrounds. Here are nine words that sound Yiddish but aren’t (and the Yiddish word you may actually be thinking of):
Read more: Why is Yiddish making a comeback?
Bissell (/ˈbɪsəl/ BISS-uhl)
Definition/Origin: An American vacuum cleaner and floor care product manufacturing corporation headquartered in Walker, Michigan.
Why It sounds Yiddish: The consonant clusters of the “b” and “sl.”
Actual Yiddish word/phrase you may be thinking of: Bisl (ביסל) BIH-suul
Bisl translates to “little bit.” So, if someone asks if you speak Yiddish, you can say with the utmost confidence, “a bisl!”
Cheboygan (/ʃəˈbɔɪɡən/ shə-BOY-gən)
Definition/Origin: A city in the state of Michigan. It is the fourth-largest U.S. city on Lake Huron.
Why It sounds Yiddish: It’s the “ch” (which in this case is pronounced “sh”) and the “oy” sound.
Actual Yiddish word/phrase you may be thinking of: Boychik (בויטשיק) BOY-chik
Boychik is a Yiddish term of endearment or affectionate diminutive used to address a young boy or a young man. It’s derived from the Yiddish word “boych,” which means boy. In colloquial usage, it can convey a sense of fondness or familiarity.
As we are very fond of playing Jewish geography, perhaps you and your camp friend both know the same boychik from Cheboygan?
Cockchafer (/ˈkɒkˌtʃeɪfər/ KOK-chay-fur)
Definition/Origin: A large brown European beetle that flies at dusk and often crashes into lit windows. Adult cockchafers damage foliage and flowers, and the larvae are a pest of cereal and grass roots.
Why It sounds Yiddish: It could be the “cock” sound or the ever-present “ch.”
Actual Yiddish word/phrase you may be thinking of: Alte cocker (AL-tuh KAH-ke) and farkakte (fuh-KAHK-tuh)
Alte cocker (אַלטער קאָקער) is a Yiddish slang phrase that translates to “old fart” or “cranky old man.” It’s used colloquially to describe an elderly person, often with a humorous or affectionate undertone, depending on the context.
Farkakte (פֿאַרקאַקטע) is a Yiddish word that means defective, lousy, or messed up.
Crashing into windows? That sounds like farkakte alte cocker behavior to me.
Ganache (/ɡəˈnæʃ/ guh-NOSH)
Definition/Origin: A glaze, icing, sauce, or filling for pastries, made from chocolate and cream.
Why It sounds Yiddish: There’s that “ch” again. Or it could be that the second half of the word sounds like “nosh.”
Actual Yiddish word/phrase you may be thinking of: Nosh (נאש) NAHSH
Nosh translates to “a snack” or a “light meal.”
I could go for a nosh of a ganache-filled blintz right about now.
Ish Kabibble (/ɪʃ ˈkæbɪbəl/ ISH Kuh-BIB-uhl)
Definition/Origin: Born Merwyn Bogue, Ish Kabibble was an American comedian and cornet player. In 1913, his stage name also came to be used as a dismissive phrase meaning, “I should worry?”
Why It sounds Yiddish: The “sh” consonant cluster definitely gives off Yiddish vibes.
Actual Yiddish word/phrase you may be thinking of: ikh geblimte (איך געבליבטע) IK Geh-BLIM-teh
This phrase translates to, “I bloomed.”
When I made my stage debut at my Jewish sleepaway camp production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” ikh geblimte!
Kaput (/kəˈpʊt/ kuh-PUT)
Definition/Origin: broken and useless; no longer working or effective.
Why It sounds Yiddish: It’s safe to say that the letter “K” is the unofficial Yiddish keyholder of the English language.
Actual Yiddish word/phrase you may be thinking of: Keppe (קעפּל) KEH-pee
Keppe is a lighthearted and cute way to refer to a head or forehead. Typically used by parents and grandparents when talking to their children. As in, “Bubaleh, we need to buy you a new hat for your keppe — the one you are wearing is kaput!”.
Kerfuffle (/kərˈfʌfəl/ ker-FUH-fuhl)
Definition/Origin: A commotion or fuss, especially one caused by conflicting views.
Why It sounds Yiddish: The “sh” consonant cluster definitely gives off Yiddish origins.
Actual Yiddish word/phrase you may be thinking of: Koch-leffel (קאָכלעפֿעל) KAWKH-leh-fl
This phrase literally translates to “cooking spoon” but it is used to refer to someone who “stirs the pot” with rumors and gossip.
We all know someone who is a koch-leffel and loves to spill the tea and cause a kerfuffle.
Kibosh (/kaɪˈbɒʃ/ ky-BOSH)
Definition/Origin: to stop or end (something) and to prevent (something) from happening or continuing.
Why It sounds Yiddish: There’s that “sh” again and “bosh” does rhyme with “nosh.”
Actual Yiddish word/phrase you may be thinking of: kibbitz (קיביץ) KIH-bitz
To make small talk or chat informally.
The professor may put the kibosh on your kibbitzing if it’s during an exam review lecture.
Minutiae (/mɪˈnuːʃiˌaɪ/ mi-NOO-shee-eye)
Definition/Origin: the small, precise, or trivial details of something.
Why It sounds Yiddish: There’s that ever-persistent consonant cluster of “sh.”
Actual Yiddish word/phrase you may be thinking of: Mishegas (משוגעת) MIH-shuh-gahs
A word that means craziness, senseless behavior, or activity; a crazy situation.
We all have that one koch-leffel friend that, when telling a mishegas story, always deviates into the minutiae.
